A Journey Through Time And Style (Robert C Morton)
"Slow cinema remains a vital and evolving global film movement, one that challenges the dominant temporal and narrative logic of mainstream cinema while engaging with the complexities of contemporary life. By emphasizing duration, observation, and the everyday, slow cinema offers a unique and rewarding viewing experience, one that encourages contemplation, reflection, and a deeper engagement with the world around us.
As the digital age continues to transform cinema, slow cinema remains a crucial site for exploring the possibilities and limitations of the medium. With its roots in the modernist experiments of the post-war era and its commitment to capturing the reality of lived experience, slow cinema offers a powerful alternative to the spectacle and accelerated pace of mainstream filmmaking.
Whether through the epic-length films of Lav Diaz, the intimate portraits of Pedro Costa, or the experimental landscapes of James Benning, slow cinema continues to push the boundaries of what is possible with the moving image. As the world becomes increasingly fast-paced and fragmented, the contemplative and immersive qualities of slow cinema offer a much-needed space for reflection and resistance.
By embracing the aesthetics of slowness and the politics of the everyday, slow cinema invites viewers to step outside the dominant temporal logic of neoliberalism and to experience the world in a more direct and unmediated way. In doing so, it offers a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of cinema and the enduring importance of art in an age of acceleration and distraction."
As the digital age continues to transform cinema, slow cinema remains a crucial site for exploring the possibilities and limitations of the medium. With its roots in the modernist experiments of the post-war era and its commitment to capturing the reality of lived experience, slow cinema offers a powerful alternative to the spectacle and accelerated pace of mainstream filmmaking.
Whether through the epic-length films of Lav Diaz, the intimate portraits of Pedro Costa, or the experimental landscapes of James Benning, slow cinema continues to push the boundaries of what is possible with the moving image. As the world becomes increasingly fast-paced and fragmented, the contemplative and immersive qualities of slow cinema offer a much-needed space for reflection and resistance.
By embracing the aesthetics of slowness and the politics of the everyday, slow cinema invites viewers to step outside the dominant temporal logic of neoliberalism and to experience the world in a more direct and unmediated way. In doing so, it offers a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of cinema and the enduring importance of art in an age of acceleration and distraction."
Robert C. Morton, 20 June 2024
Comments